From left to right, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Kash Patel and President-elect Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
"We'll be taking over the investigative lead for this event. This is not a terrorist event," said New Orleans field office FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan during the press conference.
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The mayor of New Orleans contradicted Duncan in the same press conference, declaring that the attack was connected to terrorism.
"Know that the city of New Orleans was impacted by a terrorist attack. It's all still under investigation. You'll hear more after me," Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a Democrat who has served in the role since 2018, said at the presser.
The FBI released statements later Wednesday outlining that the attack was now under investigation as an act of terror, including reporting that an ISIS flag was found on the truck that rammed into the crowds.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies work the scene on Bourbon Street after at least 10 people were killed when a person allegedly drove into the crowd in the early morning hours of New Year's Day on Jan. 1, 2025 in New Orleans. (Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
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"The tragic terror attack that killed innocent people in New Orleans is a stark reminder of the importance of strong leadership. America needs a fearless fighter like @Kash_Patel at the FBI," Blackburn posted on Wednesday.
Blackburn also took issue with the FBI for allegedly reporting to the suspect’s home in Texas after the media had already staked out the property.
"The FBI didn’t show up to the NOLA suspect’s address until 1pm today. We were on scene before. No one came out of the home or answered the door," New York Post reporter Jennie Taer posted to X on Wednesday.
Blackburn responded to the Post reporter, saying that the FBI had "failed" its mission as the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
"The fact that a reporter has better intel than the FBI tells us all we need to know. The FBI has failed its core mission," Blackburn posted.
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When approached for comment on the criticisms, the FBI directed Fox Digital to its three previous statements on the attack that described it as an act of terror but did not comment on the New Orleans’ agent saying Wednesday that the attack was not connected to terrorism.
"This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism," the FBI said in one of its three statements provided to Fox Digital.
New Orleans police and federal agents investigate a suspected terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Chris Granger/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Biden mourned the attack on Wednesday, highlighting that despite the violence, "our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated."
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"New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world," the president said. "It's a city full of charm and joy. So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture, and above all, its people."
"So I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated," he added.
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